Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-1493’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Vaccinium  plant named ‘TH-1493’, characterized by a combination of early season flowering and ripening, large berries with good color and flavor, high quality fruit production in conventional production areas, and a chilling requirement of about 350-450 hours below about 45° F.

Botanical designation: Vaccinium corymbosum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TH-1493’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of southernhighbush blueberry plant, botanically know as Vaccinium corymbosum, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TH-1493’.

The new Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-1493’ was first identified in 2012 inGriffin, Ga. The new variety ‘TH-1493’ is early season, has largeberries with good color and flavor, with no observed notable diseases orother pest problems beyond those also common for other varieties, and achilling requirement of about 350-450 hours below about 45° F.

‘TH-1493’ is a product of a cross of ‘TH-909’ X ‘TH-681’ made by D.Scott NeSmith in 2009. Both ‘TH-909’ and ‘TH-681’ are not patented. Thenew blueberry plant variety ‘TH-1493’ has been tested in asexuallypropagated (by vegetative cuttings) plantings in Alapaha, Ga. since 2013where it was established for testing and comparing to industrystandards. Observations of the resulting ‘TH-1493’ progeny have shownthat the unique features of this new Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-1493’ arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Vaccinium cultivar ‘TH-1493’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,water and fertility levels, soil types, and light intensity without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique and distinguishing characteristics of the new Vacciniumcorymbosum cultivar named ‘TH-1493’. In combination, these traits set‘TH-1493’ apart from all other existing varieties of southern highbushblueberry known to the inventors.

-   -   1. early flowering and ripening    -   2. large fruit with good color and flavor    -   3. no significant diseases or pests not also common to other        southern highbush varieties.    -   4. high quality fruit production in conventional production        areas

Comparison: As compared to the female parent ‘TH-909’ and male parent‘TH-681’, plants of the new Vaccinium cultivar ‘TH-1493’ have a chillingrequirement of about 350-450 hours, which is lower than ‘TH-681’ (450 to550 hours) but higher than ‘TH-909’ (200 to 300 hours). The floweringtime for ‘TH-1493’ (March 2 on average) is before ‘TH-681’ (March 7 toMarch 14 on average), but after ‘TH-909’ (February 21 to February 28 onaverage). Ripening time of ‘TH-1493’ (May 9 on average) is before‘TH-681’ (May 12 to May 18 on average), and later than ‘TH-909’ (May 1to May 7 on average). Berry color for ‘TH-1493’ averages 8.0/10, whereas‘TH-681’ averages 8.5/10 and ‘TH-909’ averages 7.0/10. Berry firmness of‘TH-1493’ averages 7.5/10, whereas ‘TH-681’ averages 6.5/10 and ‘TH-909’averages 7.8/10. Berry size of ‘TH-1493’ averages 8.5/10, whereas‘TH-681’ averages 8.8/10 and ‘TH-909’ averages 7.5/10.

Plants of the new Vaccinium corymbosum can also be compared to otherearly season southern highbush blueberry cultivars ‘Suziblue’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,167) and ‘Rebel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,138). Theselection ‘TH-1493’ begins flowering and ripening slightly later than‘Suziblue’ and ‘Rebel’ in South Georgia and has a similar flowering andharvest period. ‘TH-1493’ has large berries with good color and flavoras compared to ‘Suziblue’ and ‘Rebel’ at Alapaha (Table 1). No notablediseases or other pest problems have been observed for the new varietythat are not also common for other varieties. The new variety isestimated to have a chilling requirement of 350 to 450 hours, more orless, below 45° F. (based on comparison of flowering dates with those ofknown standard cultivars) when produced under typical low to mid chillproduction regions. Studies suggest that ‘TH-1493’ produces high qualityfruit when grown in conventional production areas. Additional comparisondata of ‘TH-1493’ with ‘Suziblue’ and ‘Rebel’ are presented in the tablebelow.

TABLE 1 Plant and fruit ratings for ‘TH-1493’ and standards grown inAlapaha, GA. Data represents and average of data from 3 years (2016,2019, and 2020). ‘Suziblue’ ‘Rebel’ ‘TH-1493’ Berry size 8.0 7.6 8.5Berry scar 7.0 7.2 7.1 Berry color 7.0 7.0 8.0 Berry firmness 7.3 7.27.5 Berry flavor 7.0 6.3 7.5 Cropping 8.5 7.0 6.5 Plant vigor 8.0 8.27.8 Date of 50% Feb. 28 Feb. 26 Mar. 2 flowering Date of 50% May 7 Apr.27 May 9 ripening Fruit development 69 61 68 period (days)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overallappearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Vacciniumcorymbosum ‘TH-1493’ showing the colors as true as possible. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors ofthe new Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-1493’. The photographs were taken ofplants grown outdoors in Alapaha, Ga. taken in 2016.

The photograph labeled FIG. 1 depicts typical three-year old ‘TH-1493’plants during flowering, taken in March 2016.

The photograph labeled FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of a floweringbranch of a ‘TH-1493’ plant.

The photograph labeled FIG. 3 depicts typical three-year old plants of‘TH-1493’ during fruit ripening, taken in May 2016.

The photograph labeled FIG. 4 depicts close-up view of maturing fruit of‘TH-1493’, taken in May 2016.

The photographs labeled FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are close-up views of ripefruit of ‘TH-1493’, with FIG. 5B depicting two sliced berries to revealthe inside of the fruit.

The photograph labeled FIG. 6 is another close-up view of ripe fruit of‘TH-1493’, in a human hand, illustrating the relative size of the fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following traits have been consistently observed in the originalplant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown inAlapaha, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, theircombination forms the unique characteristics of the new varietyVaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-1493’.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2007, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements,and values describe plants of the Vaccinium corymbosum cultivar named‘TH-1493’. Data were collected between the years of 2015-2017 from ahorticulture farm and nursery in Alapaha, Ga. from 2 to 4-year-oldplants (planted in the field with supplemental irrigation). The averagelow temperature for the year ranges from about 54° F. to 58° F., and theaverage high temperature for the year ranges from about 78° F. to 82° F.

-   Botanical classification: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-1493’.    -   -   Commercial classification.—Fruit-bearing shrub.        -   Parentage.—‘TH-909’ X ‘TH-681’.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative by softwood cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Plant is strongly upright, with about 1 to 3            main canes arising from the original crown, and multiple            branching of shoots from those canes about 15 to 25 cm above            ground.        -   Usage.—Commercial and private fruit production.

    -   Productivity.—Medium to high yielding. Yields of about 5 to 8        lbs fruit per plant each year on plants 4 years old or older        grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions.        Frost protection may be useful to reach yield potential in some        years.        -   Size of plant.—Plant is about 1.3 to 1.6 m tall by 3 to 4            years. Plants grown under highly productive soil and            fertility conditions may exceed about 1.6 m tall in 4 years.            The plant crown, or base, is very narrow, typically about            10-15 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy reaches            about 1.0 to 1.3 m in diameter by 3 to 4 years.        -   Cold hardiness.—Similar to other early ripening southern            highbush varieties.-   Disease resistance.—No notable disease resistance or susceptibility    observed. Estimated to be similar to other early season southern    highbush such as ‘Suziblue’ and ‘Rebel’.    -   -   Chilling requirement.—Plants are medium chill, requiring            only about 350 to 450 hours of temperatures at or below            45 F. (7 C.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during            the spring under conventional dormant production systems.            The chill requirement is more than the female parent            ‘TH-909’ (non-patented breeding selection; 200 to 300 hours            of chilling required) and less than the male parent ‘TH-681’            (non-patented breeding selection, 450 to 500 hours of            chilling required).        -   Leafing.—Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds            simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis.        -   Canes.—Main cane base diameter about 20 to 30 mm, color most            near Brown N 200C to Grey 201C; two year-old cane diameter            10 to 15 mm, color transitioning from Greyed Orange 166C to            Grey 201C; one-year-old wood diameter about 5 to 10 mm,            color Yellow Green 145C.        -   Fruiting wood.—Moderate number of twigs (about 5 to 8            common) of about 15 to 25 cm in length, with internode            lengths of about 15 to 25 mm common.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf color.—Healthy mature leaves: top side of leaf color is            Green 137B, under side of leaf color is Green 138C.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf margins.—Slightly to moderately crenate; older leaves            become mostly entire.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate with slight netting.        -   Leaf apices.—Acute.        -   Leaf bases.—Acute.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Length: about 60 to 70 mm; width: about 30            to 35 mm.        -   Petioles.—Small, about 5.0 to 7.0 mm long, about 1.5 to 2.0            mm wide; Color: Yellow Green 145C.        -   Texture.—Both upper and lower leaf surfaces glaucous.-   Flowers:    -   -   Date of 50% anthesis.—3-year average March 2 in southeast            Georgia.        -   Flower shape.—Urceolate.        -   Flower bud number.—High to very high, averaging 3 to 6 buds            per fruiting shoot.        -   Flowers per cluster.—4 to 8 common.        -   Flower fragrance.—Slight to moderate cut flower/rose            fragrance.        -   Corolla color.—White NN 155B to NN 155C.        -   Corolla length.—9.5 to 10.5 mm.        -   Corolla width.—8.0 to 9.0 mm.        -   Corolla aperture width.—3.0 to 4.0 mm.        -   Flower peduncle.—Length 15.0 to 25.0 mm; Color: Yellow Green            145C.        -   Flower pedicel.—Length 5.0 to 8.0 mm; Color: Green 138D.        -   Calyx (with sepals).—Diameter: 6.5 to 7.5 mm; Color: sepals            Green 138C; calyx center Green 138B.        -   Stamen.—Length: 8.0 to 9.0 mm; number per flower: 10;            filament color: Green White 157C to 157D.        -   Style.—Length: 9.5 to 10.5 mm; Color: Yellow Green 145B.        -   Pistil.—Length: 11.5 to 12.5 mm; ovary color: Green 138C.        -   Anther.—Length: 4.0 to 5.0 mm; number: 10; Color: Greyed            Orange 164B.        -   Pollen.—Abundance: medium; Color: White NN 155A.        -   Compatibility.—The cultivar has a moderate degree of            self-compatibility.-   Fruit:    -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—3-year average May 9 in southeast            Georgia.        -   Fruit development period.—About 68 days in southeast            Georgia.        -   Berry color.—With wax Violet Blue 97B to Blue 100D; with wax            removed Black 203C.        -   Berry flesh color.—Green White 157C.        -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Medium to high.        -   Berry weight.—1^(st) harvest: about 3.7 to 4.5 g; 2^(nd)            harvest: about 2.8 to 3.4 g.        -   Berry size.—Height from calyx to scar: about 17 to 19 mm;            diameter: about 18 to 22 mm.        -   Berry shape.—Semi-spherical to spherical.        -   Fruit stem scar.—Small to medium, dry, with no tearing upon            harvest.        -   Calyx.—Depth medium, about 2.0 to 3.0 mm; width medium,            about 5.0 to 7.0 mm; sepals nearly absent, flat or inwards            when present, <about 1 mm.        -   Berry firmness.—Good.        -   Berry flavor and texture.—Good sweetness, mildly acid            flavor; very smooth texture.        -   Storage quality.—Good.        -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not likely suitable.        -   Uses.—Primarily to be used as fresh fruit for shipping and            processing markets.-   Seed:    -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium, about 10 to 20 fully            developed seeds per berry.        -   Seed color.—Greyed Orange 165B.        -   Seed dry weight.—33.8 mg per 100 seed.        -   Seed size.—About 1.2 to 1.7 mm long.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Vaccinium plantnamed ‘TH-1493’ as illustrated and described herein.